Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-22
Anti-SalOOn Republicanism

| The circular sent out by the Anti saloo;
Republican League of New York State ant
the address of the Anti-saloon Republicans o
Massachusetts, are significant indications o
the drift of public sentiment on the temper
ance question. The names signed to botf
these papers are among the best known ant
most influential in the republican party. Sen
ators Dawes and Hoar, Congressman Long
Rufus S. Frost, Edward Everett Hale ant
others equally as prominent endorse the ap
peal to Massachusetts republicans, while brie
confrmatory statements of the views o
Senators Morrill,, Edmunds, Evarts and Viii
son, Ex Secretary of War McCrary, Elk Sen
ator Window, Eek Governor Foster and Con
gressmen Buell., Taylor, Ladd, Pettbone
Buck and Lindsay are appended to the New
York circular.
| 1t is evident that there is a steadily grow
ing sentiment in favor of restricting the evil:
resulting from the liquor traffic. The pres
ent year has marked great advance in thi:
respect. Before it ends four States will have
voted on the adoption of prohibitory amend
ments to their constitutions. Two such cleo
tons have already occurred, in neither Of
which, however, was the attempt successful
In republican Michigan the proposition was
defeated by small majority only, but in
democratic Texas it was buried under ma
jority which will certainly reach $4,000, and
may approach 100000 The two States YET
TO vote are Tennessee, which is controlled by
the democrats, and Oregon, which is close,
but is usually carried by the republicans. II
is possible, but not probable, that one or both
of these States may accept the prohibitory
amendment, but from present APPEARANCES
success is doubtful in both, public sentimen,
IN neither State being hardly advanced
enough to warrant the adoption of prohibit
ton yet.
The purpose of the New York and Massa-
CHI sets anti saloon republican addresses is
not 10 force the republicans upon prohibi-
tory platform, but to bring it up squarely
with the advance made in public opinion or
this question. They are designed to urge
that its attitude as an aDti-saloon party be
made clear and distinct. How much the
future of temperance reform is bound up with
the republican party is shown in the written
statement of Mr.. Henry B. Metcalf, which is
included in the New YORK address. He says
"Only seven States have as yet by popular
vote declared their position as to the absolute
extirpation of the liquor saloon, but all OF
these seven States are republican, having
given joint plurality for Mr.. Blaine of 10 :
222 while their joint maj )rity for prohibition
has been 1864. Their gross vote in favor
OF prohibition was 945 ,24S, while their ag-
gregate vote for ST. John was 1904. So
the question seems to be whether the repub.
lican party shall advance to the position OF
its members or the members be expected to
fall back"
Everything which has been done in the
North in favor of restricting the liquor traffic
has been accomplished by the republican
party; and, as Senator Edmunds thinks, all
that will be done in the same way during the
next twenty five years will be done by the
same party. 1t seems evident then that the
part of wisdom for the temperance people is
to work with the repub lean party . d aid in
keeping it abreast of the times on this impor
tant question. The folly of separate political
action has been shown in New York and
Massachusetts, where the submission of pro-
hibitory amendments and the passage OF
restrictive legislation have been defeated by
the election of democrats to the legislatures
through the nomination of third party candi-
dates. The experience of the past ought to
teach wisdom for the future. philadelphia
Press